Label-moistener.



W. E. FLEMING.

LABEL MOISTENER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6. I915.

Patented m 11, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

Witnessesv W. E. FLEMING.

LABEL MOISTENER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, I915. 1,190,585.. Patented July 11, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Attorfie Z ZWAMM WARREN E. FLEMING, OF MANHATTAN, KANSAS.

LABEL-MOISTENER.

Application filed November 6, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WARREN E. FLEMING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Manhattan, in the county of Riley and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Label-hloistener, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains' to moistening devices.

It is the object of this invention to provide a novel and improved device for moistening labels, stamps, envelops and other gummed articles.

The invention embodies novel and improved features which render the device convenient, serviceable, practical and etiicient in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved label moistener. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a. cross section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a fragmental longitudinal section taken on the line 4& of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the moistening element and its carrier or holder. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal detail taken on the line o c of Fig. 2. D

The device is mounted upon a wooden or other suitable base 1, upon which is secured a plate 2 having reflexed edges 3 forming guides for receiving the lower outturned flanges 4; of the water tank or receptacle 5 mounted upon the base. The tank 5 can be slid by a longitudinal movement in either direction into and out of engagement with the plate 2, so that the base 1 can be made fast upon a table, desk, counter or other support.

The tank 5 is provided with a concaved bottom 6 extending from end to end, and said tank is provided with a transverse partition or member 7 terminally attached to the sides of the tank adjacent the upper edges thereof and between the ends of the Specification of Letters Patent.

above the tank.

Patented July 11, 1916.

Serial No. 60,099.

tank. The upper edge of the cross member 7 has a flange 8 bent toward the rear end of the tank, and curled upward and backward to provide a slotting hinge butt or sleeve 9. There is an opening between the hlnge butt 9 and the rear end of the tank for accommodating a cylindrical water reservoir 11 whose axis is disposed transversely The rear end of the tank is extended upwardly, and is bent on a compound curve, so that the extension 10 conforms to the curvature of the reservoir 11 and is arranged close adjacent to the same, the upper end of the extension or hood 10 slightly overhanging the reservoir to hold the reservoir in place. The side edges of the extension or hood 10 are provided with flanges 12 overlapping the ends of the reservoir 11. These flanges 12 assist in holding the reservoir in place and also reinforce the extension or hood 10. The ends of the reservoir 11 are provided with central outstanding knobs 13, whereby the reservoir can be turned or rotated easily by hand, said knobs 13 being readily grasped by the thumb and fingers. The periphery of the reservoir 11 is provided between the ends thereof with an aperture or opening 14:, and the periphery is also provided between the ends of the reservoir with an outstanding lug or stop 15. The lug 15 is movable between the hood 10 and hinge butt 9, and the upper end of the hood 10 is provided with a recess 17 for receiving the lug 15 to limit the movement of the reservoir properly when the aperture 14 is brought to the bottom of the reservoir to allow the water to flow from the reservoir into the tank. When the reservoir is rotated to bring the lug 15 against the hinge butt 9, the aperture 14: is brought to the top, so that water can be poured into the reservoir through the aperture 14:, for refilling the reservoir when necessary. The extension or hood 10 is useful for three purposes, viz., it assists in holding the reservoir in place, limits the ro tation of the reservoir by acting as a stop against which the lug 15 seats when the aperture 14 is brought lowermost, and also prevents spilling, since when the reservoir is turned to move the aperture 14 downwardly, any water which spills out through the aperture 14 is caught by the hood or extension 10 and is conducted downwardly into the tank. The water will therefore not spill outside of the tank as would be objectionable. The reservoir 10 can be readily removed by moving it upwardly and forwardly out of the opening between the hinge butt 9 and rear end of the tank, and

when .the reservoir is inserted, it seats upon the hingebutt 9 and rear end of the tank, but the reservoir can be rotated easily, The rear end of the tank is provided with a pair of upstanding ears 16 whose edges extend across opposite portions of the aperture 1 1 when said aperture is brought .to the bottom of the reservoir, and should there be a tendency for the water to be held within the reservoir by atmospheric pressure, the ears 16in contacting with the water within the aperture 14: will carry the water by capillary attraction into the tank, to start the flow of water from the reservoir into the tank.

: Disposed over the tank between the hinge butt 9 and forward end thereof, is a cover or top plate 18 which is provided at its rear end with a head or enlargement 19 adapted to be moved into the hinge butt 9 to assemble the cover 18 with the tank, said cover being moved transversely of the. tank to move the bead 19 longitudinally of itself into'the hinge butt 9. The cover 18 .has depending flanges 20 at its side edges and free end to overlap the sides and forward end of the tank when the cover 18 is moved into place and swung downwardly. hen the 7 cover 18 is thus applied to the tank, it is held in position, and can be removed only by swinging the cover upwardly and then moving it transversely to disengage it from the 'hingebutt 9. a

y The cover 18 has an opening 21, and a plate or wing 22 is disposed over said opening and is provided at one edge with pintles 23 ournaled in bearings 24: secured upon the cover 18 adjacent one side edge thereof. The plate or wing 22 normally projects over the opening 21 and rests upon the cover, and the pivoted or hinged portion of'the plate 22 has a finger piece 25 projecting therefrom and overhanging one side of the tank,

whereby the finger piece 25 can be depressed for raising the plate 22. The free or inner edge of the plate 22 has a reflexed or bent back portion 26, providing a rounded surface .at the free edge of the plate 22. The edge of the cover 18 adjacent'the free edge of the plate 22 has a reflexed or bent back portion 27 .complementing the portion 26, and said portions 26 and 27 have inclined surfaces sloping toward one another whereby any water depositedupon the portions 26' 27 will be drained back into the tank. There is a'longitudinal slot 28 between the portions 2627.

Disposed within the tank 5 below the cover 18, is a moistening element holder or carrier 29 embodying a cylindrical body 30, and an arched or yoke-shaped wire element or member 31. The limbs of the member 31 are disposed within the body 30 adjacent the ends thereof and the ends of the member 31 are outturned to provide trunnions 32 engaged centrally through the ends of the body 30 and seated in seats or bearings 33 with which the partition or cross member 7 and forward end of the tank are provided. Then the cover 18 is removed, the holder 29 can be deposited in the tank, to seat the trunnions 32 in the bearings 33, and conversely, the holder 29 can be readily removed. The body 30 is provided with a longitudinal slot 31 in its periphery through which the member 31 extends, so that the intermediate portion of the member 31 projects beyond the periphery of the body 30, and a doubled sheet 35 of felt or other equivalent absorbent material is disposed over the intermediate portion of the member 31 and extends through the slot 34. The ends of the felt 35 rest upon a wing 36 which is formed by bending a portion of the periphery of the body 30 inwardly so as to project toward the slot 3 1. The end portions of the felt are clamped upon the wing 36 by means of a clasp 37 pivoted to the ends of the body 30 and pressing the felt down upon the wing 30. The clasp 30 can be swung to release the felt, whereby the felt can be adjusted or renewed. The body 30 is rotatable under the slot 28, and the projecting portion of the felt or moistening element 35 is normally arranged within the tank below the plate 22, means being provided for rotating the body 30 to swing the felt or moistening element upwardly to project through the slot 28. This means embodies an outstanding pin or lug 38 carried by the forward end of the body 30, and a plunger 39 seated upon said lug and slidable through the cover 18 adjacent the free end thereof. A finger piece or key 40 is secured upon the plunger 39, and upon the outturned end 11 of a bar 42 disposed below the cover 18 and having its other end pivoted, as at 13, to the cover adjacent the hinged end thereof. The angularly extending end 41 of the bar 12 is slidable through the cover 18, and the plunger 39 is pivoted at its upper end to the finger piece 40. The holder 29 is so constructed that one half thereof over-balances the other half, so that the holder normally swings to the position illustrated in Fig. 3, withthe felt or moistening element lowered within the tank, and this serves to normally raise the lug 38, so that the plunger 39 is elevated for holding the finger piece 40 raised. When the finger piece 10 is depressed, the lug 38 is pushed downwardly, which rotates the holder 39 to swing the felt or moistening element to upstanding position within the slot 28. When the moistening felt is swung upwardly, it pushes the plate 22 outwardly, to allow the felt to pass said plate, and then when the felt is moved. to-upwardly projecting position, the plate 22 drops behind the felt and member 31, and holds the moistening element in said position so that it cannot swing backwardly into the tank until the plate 22 is swung to release the holder 29. This can be done by depress ing the finger piece 25, to raise the plate 22 so that the moistening element can swing backwardly thereunder.

In usingthe moistener, the water tank 5 is filled with water up to a level adjacent or slightly above the bottom of the reservoir 11, and said reservoir is filled with water. To fill the reservoir, it is rotated to bring the aperture 14 to the top, or the reservoir can be removed as above indicated, to be placed under a faucet or the like, the water being poured through the aperture 1 1 into the reservoir. Then, when the reservoir is replaced between the hinge butt 9 and the hood 10, with the aperture 1st uppermost, the reservoir is rotated to move the lug 15 from the hinge butt 9 into the recess 17 of the hood, which will bring the aperture 1 1 lowermost. Any water which flows through the aperture let during the inversion of the reservoir, will be caught by the hood 10 and conducted downwardly into the tank. The normal water lever will be slightly above the aperture 141:, and as the water level lowers, to allow air to enter the aperture 1 1, water will flow from the reservoir into the tank, whereby the water is maintained at a predetermined level within the tank, as long as there is water within the reservoir. The reservoir may be readily refilled from time to time, and is preferably con structed of glass or other transparent material for purpose of convenience and appearance, although the reservoir may be constructed of sheet metal or other suitable material.

The felt is normally submerged within the tank, so that it will be saturated. The operation of moistening a label, stamp, envelop or other gummed article is preferably carried out as follows: The label or other gummed article is held in the left hand, and the finger piece or key 4-0 is depressed by the right hand, which will rotate the holder 39 to bring the felt or moistening element to upwardly projecting position within the slot 28, the plate 22 dropping behind the moistening element to hold it in raised position. Both hands are therefore free to manipulate the label or gummed article, said article being placed across the moistening felt. The article is held by the tips of the fingers of the right hand lightly upon the felt, while the article is drawn over the felt by the left hand, thus moistening" the gummed surface uniformly throughout. If necessary, the label or other article can also be pulled across the felt by the right hand, while the tips of the fingers of the left hand are used for holding the article lightly upon the felt. The label or article is thus mositened quickly, easily, cleanly and efficiently and with perfect result. This avoids the obnoxious habit or necessity of licking or moistening the gummed surface by the tongue. 11 number of labels or gummed articles may be moistened at the same time, since the felt will hold sulficient water for that purpose, and the water will be carried upwardly by capillary attraction, but care must be taken to release'the felt from time to time, or when it is not to be used for a gum thereon to be dissolved by the water.

The felt is readily released by depressing the finger piece 25 so as to raise the} plate 22, in which event the weight of the member 31 and respective side of the body 30 will swing the holder. 29 to submerge the felt. WVhen the holder 29 is rotated, to bring the felt within the tank, the plunger 39 is raised to elevate the finger piece 1O, so that the felt can be subsequently raised as above indicated. It is evident that after the label or other article is moistened, it can be readily affixed or pasted to the package or other part. The gummy water will settle to the bottom of the tank, and fresh water will be continuously supplied from the reservoir, so that the felt will be continually supplied with fresh water. The tank is preferably cleaned out from time to time, to remove the gummy substance or sediment therein.

The parts can be readily separated, for

purpose of cleaning, the reservoir 11 being readily removed from the tank as above indicated, and when the cover 18 is swung upwardly sufliciently, it can be moved transversely to disengage it from. the tank. This allows the holder 29 to be lifted out of the tank. The parts can thus be cleaned easily. and the felt 35 can be adjusted or re placed when necessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A moistening device embodying a tank having a cross member between its ends and a cover between said cross member and one end, said cover having an opening, a moistening element projectable upwardly through said opening from within the tank, and a rotatable cylindrical water reservoir seated between said reservoir and other end of the tank and having an aperture in its periphery.

2. A moistening device embodying a tank having a cross member between its ends pro vided with a hinge butt, a cover having a bead slidable into said hinge butt and having portions engageable with the sides and one end of the tank to hold the cover in place,

said cover having an opening, a moistening between said cross member and one end of the tank and having an aperture in its periphery, said end of the tank being extended upwardly and curved to conform to the curvature of the reservoir and to slightly overhang the same.

4. A moistening device embodying a tank hav'ing'a cross member between its ends, a rotatable cylindrical water reservoir seated between said cross member and one end of the tank and having an aperture in its periphery, said end of the tank being extended upwardly and curved to conform to the curvature; of'the reservoir and to slightly overhang the same, said extension having flanges overlapping the ends of the cylinder, and the'periphery of the cylinder having an outstanding lug movable between said cross member and extension, said lug and aperture being so arranged that when the lug is moved against said extension the aperture is brought lowe rmost, and when the lug is moved against said cross member the aperture is brought uppermost.

' 5. A moistening device embodying a tank, a cover therefor having an opening, a plate hinged to the cover over said opening, there being a slot between the free edge of said plate and one edge of the cover formed by said opening, a rotatable member within the tank below said slot and having a moistening element projectingtherefrom to swing past said plate into said slot, the plate being adapted to drop behind said moistening element, and means for ro-tatingsaid member.

a 6. Amoistening device embodying a tank, a cover therefor having an opening, a plate hinged to the cover over'said opening, there being a slot between the free edge of said plate and one edge of the cover formed by said opening, a rotatable member within the tank below said slot and having a moistening element projecting therefrom to swing past said plate into said slot, the plate being adapted to drop behind said moistening element, said plate having-a finger piece to en able the plate to be released from the moistening element, said member being weighted so that the moistening element swings into the tank when it is released, and means for swinging said member to raise the moistening element.

7. Ina moistening device, a tank, a rotatable cylindrical body therein having a longitudinal slot in its periphery, a yoke-shaped member projecting through said slot and se- -cured to said member, a doubled moistening element engaged over the intermediate portion of said member and extending through said slot, and means for clamping the ends of said moistening element within said body.

8. In a moistening device, a tank having a pair of bearings, a rotatable cylindrical body within the tank and having a longitudinal slot in its periphery, a yoke-shaped member projecting through said slot and having angularly extending ends projecting through the ends of the body and seated in said bearshaped member projecting through said slot and attached to said body, a doubled moistening element engaged over the intermediate portion of said member and projecting through said slot, and a clamp carried by said body for clamping the ends of said element upon said wing.

10. In a moistening device, a tank having a pair of bearings, a rotatable cylindrical body within the tank having a longitudinal slot in its periphery and a portion of its periphery bent inwardly to provide a wing projecting toward said slot, a yoke-shaped member projecting through said slot and having angularly bent ends projecting angularly through the ends of the body and seated in said bearings, a doubled moistening element engaged over the intermediate portion of said member and projecting through said slot, and a clamp pivoted to the ends of the body for clamping the ends of said element upon said wing. 11. In a moistening device, a tank, a cover therefor having an opening, a plate hinged to said cover and projecting over said opening, a rotatable member within the tank below the free edge of said plate and having an outstanding moistening element to move past said plate so that the plate drops behind said moistening element to hold the moistening element in upstanding position, said member having a lug, and a plunger slidable through the cover and seating upon said lug, whereby when the plunger is depressed, said member is rotated to swing the moistening element upwardly.

12. In a moistening device, a tank, a cover therefor having an opening, a plate hinged to the cover and projecting over said opening, a cylindrical member having trunnions at its ends journaled Within the tank below the free end of said plate, an outstanding moistening element carried by said member to move past said plate to an upstanding position whereby the plate drops behind said moistening element to hold it in position, said member being weighted so that when the moistening element is released, it swings into the tank under said plate, one end of said member having a lug, a bar under the cover having one end hinged thereto and having its other end bent angularly upward and passing slidably through the cover, a finger piece secured upon the last mentioned end of the said bar, and a plunger pivoted at its upper end to the finger piece and pass ing slidably through the cover, the lower end of said plunger seating upon said lug, whereby when the finger piece is depressed, said member is rotated to move the moistening element upwardly.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WARREN E. FLEMING.

Witnesses:

GEO. J. SURBBE, D. H. FLEMING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

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